Think my chicks have a cold....Help

[speckledhen]

No, you cannot eat the eggs while on antibiotics. You'll have to toss them for at least two weeks after the course is over.

The problem with antibiotics is that it may help their symptoms, maybe, but if they have a carrier disease, they are still sick, no matter how they look or act. I do not want carrier birds in my flock if I can help it. Carrier means that they will pass the disease on to previously healthy birds, even when they themselves do not seem ill. If my birds are congested like that, they will be culled. If I think it has spread, I will have one sent for a necropsy to discover the actual disease. Keeping sickly birds is one way to set yourself up for one incident after another and lots more expense. Remember, if it is viral rather than bacterial, antibiotics do nothing.

Edited to add: I want everyone to make informed decisions about this stuff, not operate on false hope and fallacies. Research diseases of poultry, get the Poultry Health Handbook, educate yourself. That's why I cringe when I see someone say their chickens have a "cold" and what drugs to give them, without knowing what they're treating.

 

[katrinag]

I have been seeing alot of posts about sneezing/colds in birds. I was wondering if alot of it had to do with the change in weather?

 

[speckledhen]

If it's just dry sneezing, I'd say environmental is a distinct possibility. If there are snotty noses and matted shut eyes, then you have more than environmental probably. Without testing, no one can say for certain what you have going on. So, with that in mind, you may be doing your bird a disservice by pumping it full of antibiotics, not knowing if they can even do any good at all. If it's viral, they are a waste of time and money.

 

[dangeralley]

I did do my research.....do I kill them or not. I don't want my babies to get sick.

 

[speckledhen]

I cannot make that final decision for you. And I cant even say what their health issue is. I'm sorry, wish I could help you with this. All anyone can do is make sure you have the correct facts in order to make your own decision. If they are just sneezing, I would give them warmth, good food and water with unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar in it and observe. If they are just sneezing because of ammonia in their area or pollen or dusty feed, then nothing else will happen. If they are strong enough, they may fight off whatever it is. If they can't, then they are in a weakened condition and it's probably better that they pass on naturally. This is one of the hardest things about caring for chickens, making those hard judgement calls.

 

[teddiliza]

I also have a chick that has been sneezing and making gasping motions, but no drainage so far. The tiny silkie baby that was with it died, which was no surprise as it wasn't doing so well when I bought it, but me the old softie tried anyway. This one is hanging on even though it frequently has its eyes shut. It didn't have a sneeze until about 48hrs after I bought it. But my garage is dusty from all the sawdust when my husband made a bunch of wood cabinets from fiberboard. The older silkie chick I bought from the feed store seems to be unaffected. I changed all their bedding today, and all the young ones have heat lamps. So I'm crossing my fingers, but I am scared it might be contagious to my newly hatched chicks if they are in the same room, so I've got my new babies in the house. One is keeping its eyes shut though......

 

[speckledhen]

If the bedding has cedar or walnut in it, it's toxic to them, and that may cause sneezing and breathing problems. Just a FYI fact.

 

[Tweeza]

Quote:
I have to agree. I thought it would be okay to put my chicks in a large box but it wasn't. They needed more ventilation. I figured that one out when two chicks started labored breathing and had a clicking noise coming from their nostrils (mucus I'm sure). I got them out of the box quick. I didn't have a cage but I did have a piece of rabbit hutch wire that I created a circle out of and placed on the floor. It worked great! The chicks survived without any other intervention except prayer.

What I found interesting was the only chicks with problems were the black australorps. Two with the respiratory problem and one with pasty butt. The other 7 (GSL and SS) had no problems at all.

 

[dangeralley]

We have Pine Shavings. We get it at TSC. They seem to be doing better today. A lil snezzing but not as bad as it was.